Role play seems to be the name of the game
in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. The main characters
in the play pretend to be someone who others would like them to be,
instead of being their true selves. The person that stands out the most
as a character whose role play is almost impeccable to the point where
it seems she leads two different lives is Nora. She is Torvald’s
loving and childish wife, and unknowingly, a strong, independent woman.
As the play progresses, Nora’s persona shifts from that of the
everyday playful, trophy wife seen by Torvald and friends, to that of
a self-empowering, willing woman.
Nora’s first impression on the audience
is of an obedient, money-loving, childish wife. In the first act, Nora
seems to just want money from her husband Torvald. In the first encounter
with Torvald after showing him what she just bought for their kids,
she doesn’t delay herself in asking for money. Even when asked
what she would like for Christmas, money is her answer. It is impressive
how Torvald addresses Nora as she was just a little girl, or even a
pet, “my little lark mustn’t droop her wings like that.
What? Is my squirrel in the sulks?” (Ibsen 842). It seems as if
he is talking to a little child. And he says that as he is giving her
money, which makes their interaction seem almost of a grown grandparent
giving money to his precious, favorite young granddaughter. All of which
makes Nora seem more like a prized possession than an equal partner
in marriage. This is how Ibsen first introduces Nora to the audience,
as a simple minded, obedient trophy-wife. Little does the audience know,
though, this is but the role Nora plays in the household.
As the play progresses, the audience comes
to learn that due to a sickness Torvald had in the past, Nora in order
to pay for a trip needed to save Torvald’s life was forced to
take a loan from a rich man known as Mr. Krogstad. There is a little
subtlety, Nora not only got this loan behind Torvald’s back, but
in the legal process of obtaining it, she was forced, due to the circumstances,
to forge a signature so that she could get the money in time to save
her husband’s life. It is impressive that Nora was able to get
the loan as Nora’s friend, Mrs. Linden, remarks “a wife
can’t borrow [money] without her husband’s consent”
(Ibsen 848). This implies Nora is not completely a money loving fiend
who just follows every instruction given by her husband, but she is
a willing and determined individual who does what is needed for the
best of her loved ones.
The plot of the play becomes increasingly
interesting when the audience finds out that now Krogstad is one of
the employees of Torvald, and Torvald plans on firing Krogstad. Krogstad
knowing now of the forgery, blackmails Nora on the condition that if
she doesn’t persuade Torvald to not fire him, Krogstad would tell
Torvald and everyone else that she forged that signature; in which case
it would have legal consequences for Nora. Yet most significant to Nora,
knowing Torvald’s abhorrence towards dishonesty and debt is her
fear of ruining her family’s image. The revelation of this secret
to the audience completely changes the perception of who Nora truly
is, or at least leaves the audience in a state of momentary confusion
without knowing how to label Nora. This secret shows the strength of
her character to carry with a burden she shouldn’t have had to
carry on her own. Not only is she paying back for a debt that shouldn’t
be hers, but she has been paying back by saving half the money she is
given for clothes and by doing “a heap of copying” (Ibsen
849) books. It is admirable what is now known of Nora. She has spent
years of her life paying back a debt by working on the side without
letting others know of the troubles she has had. Specially the fact
that the money she got she didn’t use for clothes or drinks; the
money was used to save her husband’s life. Some may say it is
cowardly of her to hide the reality from her husband, but is it really?
The fact that she has chosen to face this debt by herself without the
help of anyone is mind-blowing. Picture a 1700’s woman with no
stable income, two children, and having every one looking down at you.
Instead of asking for help to pay it back and telling Torvald it was
money used on him and for him, she takes the hard road by choosing to
work what little she can by earning whatever she can. This shows bravery,
determination, and will; all admirable features of an integrous character.
Finally, when Torvald finds out of the
debt and Nora’s forgery, he rages on at Nora for what she has
done. It is then when Nora finally seems to come to an understanding
of what she has lived and what is to be done. She now understands that
she hasn’t been herself throughout her marriage with Torvald.
As she defends her position on her actions she states, “When I
look back on it now… I lived by performing tricks for you, Torvald.
But you would have it so” (Ibsen 885). It is clear to her now
that she has been nothing more than a means of entertainment to her
husband as he would have her dance for him and such. And Torvald, as
much as he might have critiqued her in the end for her childish behavior,
Nora points out that it is for performing those tricks he loved of her.
Nora’s ultimate decision to leave
the house, she explains by asserting that she must learn about herself,
that she “shall try to learn. I [Nora] must make up my mind which
is right - society or I” (Ibsen 886). Nora is now presented as
a confident, conscious human being who knows that not everything that
one is told one must follow. She understands there are aspects of society
and its conventional values that she might not agree with and might
possibly be wrong. Torvald then offers to teach her and she rejects
him because she is conscious that she has to educate herself or at least
away from him. She also points out that they never spoke of serious
things, which could be the reason why she believes he isn’t right
to teach her; along with the fact that he has been looking down on her
since they’ve met.
In the end, Nora comes out as a strong
willed, independent woman who knows what she wants. Nora is not only
Ibsen’s vessel to show women’s strong character, but serves
the purpose of showing women as equal human beings. Nora also helps
point out that there might some aspects of society which might be incorrect
besides the perception of women as the less sharp sex; the law of those
days for example. All of these are shown with Nora’s possession
of a secret life. In the surface she appears as a beautiful, fun toy
to her husband, father, and even to her friend Mrs. Linden, but it is
only when they find out of her secret life when they start to appreciate
her for more than a beautiful girl that she is. That second life of
hers allows Nora to show that she can work, that she can withstand enormous
amounts of pressure, and that she is capable to do things when she is
determined. It is this secret life that eventually leads to her being
freed from that doll house, as she calls it, and ultimately allows her
to leave without being afraid to study and learn about herself and society.

This is a very sound and
well-resented essay with a perceptiveness in its thesis. There are a few glitches
in some of the sentences, but not enough to detract for the overall impression
of intelligent commentary. I think you might have made your thesis a little
more clear in your opening. For instance, you might have said: "Even in
the life she lives with Torvald, there are signs that beneath the "twitterbird"
and "squirrel," there is a strong and capable woman functioning in
secret. It is this secret Nora who emerges in the end, ready to openly seek
an independent life where her attributes needn't be concealed." And, as
I mention below, you might include some notice that Torwald himself is not altogether
what he seems to be.

Again, some fine thinking
through the implications of the play and a clear exposition. This is a good
example of an A paper. I would probably give it in the vicinity of a 96.

Nora’s True Identity

Role play seems to be the name of the game
in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House. The main characters
in the play pretend to be someone who others would like them to be,
instead of being their true selves. The person that stands out the most
as a character whose role play is almost impeccable to the point where
it seems she leads two different lives is Nora. She is Torvald’s
loving and childish wife, and unknowingly, even
to herself, a strong, independent woman. As the play progresses,
Nora’s persona shifts from that of the everyday playful, trophy
wife seen by Torvald and friends, to that of a self-empowering, willing
woman. This is a good, clear opening. As is, you
are describing the story. You might close with a kind of thesis statement
to indicate what you are going to do with theis information.
Nora’s first impression on the audience
is of an obedient, money-loving, childish wife. In the first act, Nora
seems to just want money from her husband Torvald. In the first encounter
with Torvald after showing him what she just bought for their kids,
she doesn’t delay [herself] in asking
for money. Even when asked what she would like for Christmas, money
is her answer. It is impressive how Torvald addresses Nora as she was
just a little girl, or even a pet, “my little lark mustn’t
droop her wings like that. What? Is my squirrel in the sulks?”
(Ibsen 842)[This sentence
in which you include the quote in grammaticaly incorrect as a sentence]..
It seems as if he is talking to a [little]
child. And he says that as he is giving her money, which makes their
interaction seem almost of a grown grandparent
giving money to his precious, favorite young granddaughter. All of which
makes Nora seem more like a prized possession than an equal partner
in marriage. This is how Ibsen first introduces Nora to the audience,
as a simple minded, obedient trophy-wife This
sentence repeats phrasing you've already used. . Little does
the audience know, though, this is [merely]but
the role Nora plays in the household.
As the play progresses, the audience comes
to learn that due to a sickness Torvald had in the past, Nora,
in order to pay for a trip needed to save Torvald’s life,
was forced to take a loan from a rich man[a moneylender] known as Mr. Krogstad.
There is a little subtlety, Nora not only
got this loan behind Torvald’s back, but in the legal process
of obtaining it, she was forced, due to the circumstances, to forge
a signature so that she could get the money in time to save her husband’s
life. It is impressive that Nora was able to get the loan as Nora’s
friend, Mrs. Linden, remarks “a wife can’t borrow [money]
without her husband’s consent” (Ibsen 848). This implies
Nora is not completely a money loving fiend who just follows every instruction
given by her husband, but she is a willing and determined individual
who does what is needed for the best of her loved ones. Your
explication of this aspect of Nora and our understanding is very clear--well
presented.
The plot of the play becomes increasingly
interesting when the audience finds out that now Krogstad is one of
the employees of Torvald, and Torvald plans on firing Krogstad. Krogstad
knowing now of theNora's
forgery, blackmails Nora on the condition that if she doesn’t
persuade Torvald to not fire him, Krogstad would tell Torvald and everyone
else that she forged that signature; in which case it would have legal
consequences for Nora. Yet most significant to Nora, knowing Torvald’s
abhorrence towards dishonesty and debt is her fear of ruining her family’s
image. This might be stated more precisely. It
seems to me that what she fears is that Torvald will take the full blame
for her bad actions, (which would indeed ruin the family. The
revelation of this secret to the audience completely changes the perception
of who Nora truly is, or at least leaves the audience in a state of
momentary confusion without knowing how to label Nora. This secret shows
the strength of her character to carry with a burden she shouldn’t
have had to carry on her own. Not only is she paying back for a debt
that shouldn’t be hers (why not?),
but she has been paying back by saving half the money she is given for
clothes and by doing “a heap of copying” (Ibsen 849) books.
It is admirable what is now known of Nora. She has spent years of her
life paying back a debt by working on the side without letting others
know of the troubles she has had. Specially the fact that the money
she got she didn’t use for clothes or drinks; the money was used
to save her husband’s life. Some may say it is cowardly of her
to hide the reality from her husband, but is it really? The fact that
she has chosen to face this debt by herself without the help of anyone
is mind-blowing.
(You might look for less slang-y phrses to use in your essay. "is
staggering to consider.") Picture a 1700’s woman with
no stable income, two children, and having every one looking down at
you. Instead of asking for help to pay it back and telling Torvald it
was money used on him and for him, she takes the hard road by choosing
to work what little she can by earning whatever she can. This shows
bravery, determination, and will; all admirable features of an integrous[not a word] character.
Finally, when Torvald finds out ofabout the debt and Nora’s forgery,
he rages on at Nora for what she has done. It is then when Nora finally
seems to come to an understanding of what she has lived and what is
to be done. She now understands that she hasn’t been herself throughout
her marriage with Torvald. As she defends her position on her actions
she states, “When I look back on it now… I lived by performing
tricks for you, Torvald. But you would have it so” (Ibsen 885).
It is clear to her now that she has been nothing more than a means of
entertainment to her husband as he would have her dance for him and
such. And Torvald, as much as he might have critiqued her in the end
for her childish behavior, Nora points out that it is for performing
those tricks he loved of her. I think here it
would show an extension of your theme to point out the Torvald, too,
shows that he is not what Nora expected him to be--instead of heroic
self-sacrifice, he shows a petulant and cowardly desire for self-protection.
Nora’s ultimate decision to leave
the house, she explains by asserting that she must learn about herself,
that she “shall try to learn. I [Nora] must make up my mind which
is right - society or I” (Ibsen 886). Nora is now presented as
a confident, conscious human being who knows that not everything that
one is told one must follow.watch awkward phrasing.
"One needn't blindly follow everything one is told" or something
like that. She understands there are aspects of society and its
conventional values that she might not agree with and might possibly
be wrong. Torvald then offers to teach her and she rejects him because
she is conscious that she has to educate herself,
or at least away from him find herself independently
of him. She also points out that they never spoke of serious
things, which could be the reason why she believes he isn’t right
to teach her; along with the fact that he has been looking down on her
since they’ve met.
In the end, Nora comes out as a strong
willed, independent woman who knows what she wants. Nora is not only
Ibsen’s vessel to show women’s strong character, but serves
the purpose of showing women as equal human beings. The
character of Nora also helps point out that there might some
aspects of society which might be incorrect besides the perception of
women as the less sharp sex; the law of those days for example. All
of these are shown with Nora’s possession of a secret life. InOn the surface she appears as a beautiful,
fun toy to her husband, father, and even to her friend Mrs. Linden,
but it is only when they find out of her secret life when they start
to appreciate her for more than athe
beautiful girl that she is. That second life of hers allows Nora
to show that she can work, that she can withstand enormous amounts of
pressure, and that she is capable to do things when she is determined.
It is this secret life that eventually leads to her being freed from
that doll house, as she calls it, and ultimately allows her to leave
without being afraid to study and learn about herself and society.